Double Take: Barnfind Shortened ’57 Bel Air Convertible

Traveling through Alabama on my way to another lead, I was in the middle of nowhere when I spied the tail of a 1957 Chevrolet Bel-Air Convertible sitting neglected in a carport. The owner was more then happy to show me the car, but as we walked toward it, something seemed amiss. From the road it looked fine but up close the car was way too short.

The story goes the car was originally a 1957 Bel-Air 4-door, and a previous owner cut two doors out of it and moved the body forward. He then chopped the front door frames off and mounted a convertible top to the body. The car was then mounted on a 1972 Cadillac frame, so up front is a 500 ci V8, and, because the steering shaft coming from the column and the Cadillac steering box were so different, the owner welded sprockets on each and ran a chain between them.

I can honestly say this is one of the most unique vehicles I have ever come across. The owner said he used to drive it all the time–– which I believe. What a ride it must have been.